FAA Annual Recurrent Training for Supervisors

FAA Annual Recurrent Training for Supervisors is a federally required 1-hour refresher course that satisfies the annual recurrent training requirement under 14 CFR Part 120.115(c)(4). Supervisors who fail to complete this training annually fall out of compliance with federal aviation regulations and lose the authority to order reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol tests, putting their organization at risk.

Developed by Andrew David Easler, Esq., an attorney and nationally recognized authority on DOT drug-free workplace compliance, this course reinforces the skills and knowledge supervisors need to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol use, make accurate and legally defensible reasonable suspicion determinations, and remain fully compliant with FAA regulations year after year.

Training is designed for supervisors who have already completed the initial 2-hour FAA Reasonable Suspicion Training for Supervisors. Annual re-enrollment is required to maintain compliance. Supervisors who have not yet completed the initial training must do so before enrolling in this course.

Available as online self-paced training, on-site instructor-led training, or SCORM courseware for use in third-party learning management systems. Certificates are available for immediate download upon completion.

FAA Annual Recurrent Training for Supervisors is a self-paced, 1-hour online refresher course created by Andrew David Easler, Esq., an attorney and nationally recognized authority on DOT drug and alcohol compliance and drug-free workplace law.

Federal aviation regulations under 14 CFR Part 120.115(c)(4) require supervisors of safety-sensitive aviation employees to complete annual recurrent training to maintain their authority to order reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol tests. Without this annual training, supervisors are no longer authorized to make reasonable suspicion determinations, creating a significant compliance gap that exposes both the supervisor and the organization to regulatory penalties and liability.

This course fulfills the annual recurrent training requirement by reinforcing the foundational knowledge gained during initial training and ensuring supervisors remain current with FAA regulations and best practices. The course covers the physical, behavioral, and performance indicators of probable drug use, the symptoms of alcohol misuse based on an employee's appearance, behavior, speech, and body odor, and the correct protocols for documenting observations and ordering a reasonable suspicion test under 49 CFR Part 40 and 14 CFR Part 120.

Aviation safety depends on supervisors who are not only trained but consistently retrained. Regulations, best practices, and workplace dynamics evolve, and annual refresher training ensures your supervisory team remains sharp, confident, and legally authorized to act when it matters most. A single lapse in annual compliance can leave your organization without qualified supervisors to manage a safety-sensitive workforce.

This course is designed exclusively for supervisors who have already completed the initial 2-hour FAA Reasonable Suspicion Training for Supervisors. If you have not yet completed the initial training, you must do so before enrolling in this annual refresher.

Training certificates earned through this course are recognized in the United States, Canada, and any country adhering to US DOT regulations, covering supervisor training requirements for FAA-regulated employers operating under the DOT drug and alcohol testing program, including 49 CFR Part 40 and 14 CFR Part 120.

After successfully completing the online exam, both learners and their managers can immediately download certificates directly from the platform.

By completing this course, supervisors will be able to:

• Reinforce recognition of drug and alcohol use by refreshing and strengthening the ability to accurately identify specific, contemporaneous physical, behavioral, and performance indicators of probable drug use and the symptoms of alcohol misuse based on an employee's appearance, behavior, speech, and body odor, ensuring recognition skills remain sharp and legally defensible.
• Maintain working knowledge of FAA regulations by demonstrating current and up-to-date understanding of the federal aviation regulations governing drug and alcohol testing in safety-sensitive roles, including 49 CFR Part 40 (DOT Procedures) and 14 CFR Part 120.115(c) and 120.217(d), and confirming that annual training obligations under 14 CFR Part 120.115(c)(4) have been met.
• Maintain confident and defensible decision-making by reinforcing the ability to apply FAA guidelines to real-world situations, including when and how to initiate a reasonable suspicion test, who to notify, and how to document observations accurately and in compliance with federal aviation requirements.
• Uphold legal and regulatory compliance by reaffirming supervisor responsibilities under FAA regulations, employee rights, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) requirements, confidentiality obligations, and the consequences of non-compliance for both the supervisor and the organization, including the loss of authority to order reasonable suspicion tests.
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting by refreshing best practices for completing required documentation accurately, maintaining proper records, and ensuring every action taken is transparent, legally defensible, and consistent with FAA testing protocols under 49 CFR Part 40 and 14 CFR Part 120.